International Baccalaureate

International Baccalaureate Banner

Winter Park High School

An International Baccalaureate World School

•VISION•

To ensure every student has a promising and successful future

•MISSION•

With the support of families and the community, we create enriching and diverse pathways that lead our students to success


•OBJECTIVES•

High Expectations for Student Learning

Student Social and Emotional Well-Being

Dedicated and High-Quality Team

Positive Climate and Safe Environment

Efficient Operations

Engaged and Invested Community


•VALUES•

Personal Excellence in a Caring Place

Mutually Respectful Relationships

Challenging, Relevant Curriculum

Creative Instruction

Supportive, Professional Atmosphere


Winter Park’s IB Diploma Programme was started in 1985, and is one of the first Diploma Programmes in the state of Florida. There were 118 IB Diploma seniors in the Class of 2022. Worldwide, approximately 88% of the candidates attempting to earn the diploma are successful. At Winter Park, the 2022 IB Diploma pass rate was 97.5%.

Currently Winter Park offers the IB Diploma Programme and IB Career-related Programme. Students in the Career-related Programme select between the Biomedical Sciences or Digital Video Production careers.

Read more about our IB Programmes (click on the links on the left hand side of this webpage)

 









 

Documents and Resources for all Grade Levels
WPHS IB Progression Chart 23-24
WPHS Course Offerings 22-23 (tentative last year)

2023-2024 Course Description Catalog

WPHS IB Math Progressions Description 23-24
Winter Park High School IB Course Sequence (Updated Jan 16 2023)

IB Course Subject Briefs
One page course descriptions of each IB subject and its curriculum

Group 1: Literature

Language A: literature HL


Group 2: Language Acquisition Spanish and French

Language B SL/HL


Group 3: Individuals and societies

History of the Americas HL


Group 3 Electives Business Management SL Economics SL

Global Politics SL Psychology SL & HL

World religions SL

Group 4: Sciences

Biology SL/HL Chemistry SL Physics SL

Group 4 Elective
Sports, exercise and health science
SL


Group 5: Mathematics

Mathematical: analysis & approaches SL & HL Math: Applications & Interpretations SL


Group 6: Arts

Film SL

Music SL&HL Theatre HL

Visual arts HL



IB course videos and Elective Videos




IB Mission Statement

The International Baccalaureate Organization aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

To this end the IBO works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right.

What is so special about IB programmes?

  • IB programmes are recognized around the world and ensure an increased adaptability and mobility for IB students.
  • IB programmes focus on international perspectives of learning and teaching, while insisting that students fully explore their home culture and language.
  • IB World Schools undergo an exhaustive authorization process in order to offer IB programs, including a study of the school’s resources and commitment to the IBO mission and philosophy.
  • IB teachers participate in extensive professional development opportunities to constantly update their knowledge and share their expertise with colleagues around the world.
  • Many students graduating from the IB Programmes find that it enhances their college opportunities.
  • The core components of IB programmes encourage students to participate in creative and service-oriented activities, while at the same time emphasizing the importance of reflection on a personal and academic level.

"IB in a Nutshell"

The International Baccalaureate Organization was formed in 1968, and is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. It is a non-profit, mission-driven foundation.

Schools must undergo a rigorous application process to become an IB World School and the implementation of the program is continually monitored by the IBO to ensure that their high standards and quality practices are being met.

While the IB programmes cultivate internationalism and respect for other cultures, they also adapt to the local environment and allow students to maintain a strong sense of cultural identity. Students are taught to be active learners, well-rounded individuals and engaged citizens, who gain practical experience of being part of an international community.

IB Fast Facts

· As of 22 May 2015, there are 2,795 schools offering the DP, in 143 different countries worldwide.
· There are 1677 World Schools in the United States. 868 of these schools offer the Diploma Programme.
· 92% of Diploma Programme schools in the United States are public.


IB offers four programs for students aged 3-19:
 
  • PYP: Primary Years Programme (grades 3-5)
  • MYP: Middle Years Programme (grades 6-10)
  • DP: Diploma Programme (grades 11-12)
  • CP: Career-related Programme (grades 11-12)

The International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO), founded in 1968 in Geneva, Switzerland, is a recognized leader in the field of international education. 

The IBO aims to:
  • Provide rigorous and broad-based curricula and assessments
  • Maintain high academic standards common to schools worldwide.
  • Allow students to develop individual talents.
  • Foster critical and compassionate thinkers.
  • Open the window of the classroom to the outside world.
  • Foster a lifelong interest in learning as well as informed and responsible citizenship.
  • Promote international understanding and respect for the variety of cultures.
  • Facilitate university entrance around the world.
  •  


The IB Learner Profile
The goal of the entire IB Program is to foster the following ten characteristics in all students, known as the Learner Profile.
As IB learners we strive to be:
  • INQUIRERS: We nurture our curiosity, developing skills for inquiry and research. We know how to learn independently and with others. We learn with enthusiasm and sustain our love of learning throughout life.
  • KNOWLEDGEABLE: We develop and use conceptual understanding, exploring knowledge across a range of disciplines. We engage with issues and ideas that have local and global significance.
  • THINKERS:We use critical and creative thinking skills to analyze and take responsible action on complex problems. We exercise initiative in making reasoned, ethical decisions.
  • COMMUNICATORS: We express ourselves confidently and creatively in more than one language and in many ways. We collaborate effectively, listening carefully to the perspectives of other individuals and groups.
  • PRINCIPLED: We act with integrity and honesty, with a strong sense of fairness and justice, and with respect for the dignity and rights of people everywhere. We take responsibility for our actions and their consequences.
  • OPEN-MINDED: We critically appreciate our own cultures and personal histories, as well as the values and traditions of others. We seek and evaluate a range of points of view, and we are willing to grow from the experience.
  • CARING: We show empathy, compassion and respect. We have a commitment to service, and we act to make a positive difference in the lives of others and in the world around us.
  • RISK-TAKERS: We approach uncertainty with forethought and determination; we work independently and cooperatively to explore new ideas and innovative strategies. We are resourceful and resilient in the face of challenges and change.
  • BALANCED: We understand the importance of balancing different aspects of our lives intellectual, physical, and emotional achieve well-being for ourselves and others. We recognize our interdependence with other people and with the world in which we live.
  • REFLECTIVE: We thoughtfully consider the world and our own ideas and experience. We work to understand our strengths and weaknesses in order to support our learning and personal development.
The IB learner profile represents ten attributes valued by IB World Schools. We believe these attributes, and others like them, can help individuals and groups become responsible members of local, national and global communities

The Diploma Programme (DP)

The Diploma Programme encompasses the 11th and 12th grades. Courses are offered at either the Standard Level (SL) or the Higher Level (HL). The majority of our DP courses are two years in length. Students apply to be a Full Diploma Candidate, meaning they take and test in 6 courses (3 HL and 3 SL), complete an Extended Essay (EE), take the Theory of Knowledge (TOK) course, and complete 150 community service hours (CAS).

IB Examinations

All IB exams occur in May of the student’s year. The schedule is dictated by the IBO, and the Winter Park IB DP Coordinator organize the examination process according to strict IB regulations.

Internal Assessments (IA's)

Each DP subject incorporates one or more Internal Assessments into the curriculum. The IA's are mandatory for all students participating in the course. A certain number of students from each course will be chosen by IB to have their IA's sent to an international location for further assessment (this is called moderation).

The Extended Essay (EE)

This is a 4000 word essay that all Full Diploma Candidates do on a specific topic of their choosing. Work begins in the junior year and is completed senior year.

TOK (Theory of Knowledge)

TOK is a one year critical thinking course that teaches students how to analyze information, reflect on their thinking, and clearly articulate their positions. All Full Diploma students must take this course.

CAS (Creativity, Action, Service)

CAS is the community service requirement for all Full Diploma students. Students are required to volunteer 150 hours over the 2 year DP in the areas of creativity, action, and service.

The Career Programme (CP)

The Career-related Programme is an option for students interested in pursuing a more career-oriented path in their junior and senior year. As part of this program, students take a minimum of two DP courses, engage in 50 hours of service learning, and complete all of the items listed below. We currently have two pathways for interested students to choose from: Biomedical Sciences and Digital Video Production.

Career-related Certificate

Each CP student will spend at least 4 semesters in career related studies, with the potential to receive transcription college credits. The CP Biomedical Sciences program currently requires enrollment in the WPHS PLTW Biomedical Sciences program as a 9th or 10th grader. Digital Video Production is a 3 to 4 year program.

Reflective Project

The reflective project emphasizes the ethical dilemma associated with a particular issue drawn from the student’s career-related studies, including their course work, service learning, and/or internships. This Reflective Project is sent to the IB Organization in spring of senior year for official scoring.

Language Portfolio

Each CP student must keep a portfolio of Language Experiences that they are engaged in through their two years of the CP, community and service experience, internships and/or self-study situations. It is required of all IB CP students to improve their language proficiency in a target language other than their mother tongue language.

PPS Course (Personal and Professional Skills)

This class is taken during the second semester of the junior year and first semester of the senior year. It explores professionally and ethically based circumstances that will promote career related competencies.

IB Examinations

IB exams are taken in May of senior year. All IB CP students are required to test in at least 2 subject areas of their choosing.

Winter Park High School IB Policies

WPHS IB Academic Honor Code
WPHS IB Assessment Policy
WPHS IB Language Policy
WPHS IB Inclusion Policy